Rental Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Property in Top Shape

Renting your home to complete strangers might be one of the hardest things in the world but knowing you can earn quite a lot of money this way is going to make the whole process much easier. However, if you want to make sure your property finds proper tenants, you need to invest some money into it first and turn it into a place everyone is going to love, but also maintain it in the future as well. So, here are a few tips on how to make your rental more perfect than ever.

Repaint before new tenants move in

Making sure your property is in top shape depends on several things, but it seems that most potential tenants focus on the aesthetic appeal of the place they’re about to rent. That’s why your rental needs to be as new as possible, or at least recently renovated. But, if these two things are impossible to manage, you can go with a simple alternative and just repaint the walls before new tenants move in.

This is a quick and cheap hack that’s surprisingly effective, and you can do it as often as you can. Some people repaint their rentals once a year, while others do it just before new tenants arrive. Others, however, let the tenants do the paint job, but still get involved and set the rules themselves. In the end, you’ll all be happy, and your property will look more appealing and attractive than before.

Fix what needs to be fixed

No matter how big your rental is, the chances are certain things will require your attention, from electrical sockets to bathroom fittings and everything in between. These things are annoying and lots of landlords lose their mind over them, but the fact is that you’re all right if your floor isn’t crooked, and your roof isn’t leaking – everything else can be fixed quite quickly.

While these things are cheap and easy to fix, it still means investing money into a property you’re not occupying yourself, and that’s something nobody likes. Still, if you fix these things before renting your place, you’ll be able to find tenants more easily and even ask for more money since everything is spiced up and in accordance with rules and regulations.

Add new appliances

Lots of people love cooking on their own, realizing it’s cheaper, healthier and better than relying on takeout’s and restaurant food. That’s why most tenants pay close attention to the kitchen, and if they’re not seeing the kitchen of their dreams, they won’t even take your place into consideration. So, think about getting a few new kitchen appliances – a barbecue grill, an electric cooker and a microwave should be enough – that will attract potential tenants.

The same goes for your bathroom as well since people are often looking for recently renovated bathrooms that feature new fixtures and fittings. A new freestanding bath and a powerful Bosch washer are also a must, and if you have these things in your bathroom, you’re surely not going to have problems renting your property. Remember that you must spend money to make money and getting these appliances will go a long way.

Fix the curb appeal

Most landlords aren’t aware how vital their curb appeal is, and that’s why most of them don’t invest enough time, money and energy into it. Nevertheless, this is what defines your home and gives it a great look – not to mention the fact that it’s the first thing potential tenants see when they approach your property. And if the curb appeal doesn’t impress them, they’ll just walk away without even taking your property into consideration.

Luckily, boosting your curb appeal isn’t as hard and time-consuming as people usually think. All you have to do is mow the lawn and trim the hedges regularly, plant some new flowers in front of the house, add exterior lighting and fix the pathway. You can even fix your façade and repaint it every five or ten years, giving your rental an even fresher look.

Keeping your property in top shape can be rather challenging, but it’s something you just have to do if you wish to keep renting it in the future as well. Keep in mind that everything you invest in your rental property is going to pay off in the long run, and you have to do whatever you can to attract and keep the tenants who are willing to rent your place for years or decades to come.

About the author

Julie Hanson along with her husband Alec is Co Director of Just do Property

Educated to degree level at Manchester then Thames Valley University, Julie has enjoyed building a property portfolio for 15 years.

She worked in a large corporate organisation for almost 20 years before deciding to launch her own business.

Julie enjoys looking after their 2 children whilst building her portfolio and bringing news and information to Just Do Property subscribers.

Alec and Julie are passionate about property - development, investment and portfolio planning and hope this new website continues to assist property investors with investment news, opportunities and up-coming events.